Ancient Phoenicians Left Genetic Markers Around Mediterranean

The ancient Phoenicians may be largely forgotten, but they're not gone.

Rome destroyed the Phoenicians' greatest city — Carthage — centuries ago, but new genetic studies indicate that as many as one in 17 men living in communities around the Mediterranean may be descended from these ancient mariners.

Originating from what is now Lebanon, the Phoenicians were early seafarers and traders who spread their culture, including a love for the color purple, to North Africa, Spain and other countries around the region.

But they seemed to fade from history after their main colony, Carthage, was defeated in a series of wars with Rome.